https://anitamathias.com/2011/01/17/the-physical-postures-which-best-befit-prayer/ Anita Mathias's Blog on Faith and Art Sun, 20 Mar 2016 20:14:23 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9 https://anitamathias.com/2011/01/17/the-physical-postures-which-best-befit-prayer/#comment-16032 Sat, 03 Mar 2012 23:52:23 +0000 http://anitamathias.com/blog/2011/01/17/the-physical-postures-which-best-befit-prayer/#comment-16032 Fascinating, Don. I didn't realise that worship while sitting is not mentioned in the Bible. I actually can't focus when I stand for a long time, so do worship while sitting, perhaps not as well as with hands uplifted in the air (which i am too shy to do in public, anyway!)
Thanks much,
Anita

]]> https://anitamathias.com/2011/01/17/the-physical-postures-which-best-befit-prayer/#comment-16031 Sat, 03 Mar 2012 21:44:44 +0000 http://anitamathias.com/blog/2011/01/17/the-physical-postures-which-best-befit-prayer/#comment-16031 Actually, if you are going to use the Bible as the standard of your reference (such as we do in water baptism), the only posture not associated with worship in the entire Bible is sitting. It's not that your spirit sits…that's rediculous. Sitting denotes a non-responsive state in the context when there should be an animated response. Worship is a tripart expression: spirit, soul, and body. Worship is an expression of intimacy, and intimacy is not a casual expression; it is an involved expression to show “worth”, hence, “worship”. That being said, neither is worship a legalistic format. The bottom line is this: follow the Bible. If the Bible allows it, then you are on solid ground.

]]> https://anitamathias.com/2011/01/17/the-physical-postures-which-best-befit-prayer/#comment-16030 Sat, 03 Mar 2012 21:44:40 +0000 http://anitamathias.com/blog/2011/01/17/the-physical-postures-which-best-befit-prayer/#comment-16030 Actually, if you are going to use the Bible as the standard of your reference (such as we do in water baptism), the only posture not associated with worship in the entire Bible is sitting. It's not that your spirit sits…that's rediculous. Sitting denotes a non-responsive state in the context when there should be an animated response. Worship is a tripart expression: spirit, soul, and body. Worship is an expression of intimacy, and intimacy is not a casual expression; it is an involved expression to show “worth”, hence, “worship”. That being said, neither is worship a legalistic format. The bottom line is this: follow the Bible. If the Bible allows it, then you are on solid ground.

]]> https://anitamathias.com/2011/01/17/the-physical-postures-which-best-befit-prayer/#comment-16029 Mon, 17 Jan 2011 20:31:13 +0000 http://anitamathias.com/blog/2011/01/17/the-physical-postures-which-best-befit-prayer/#comment-16029 You're right, Elizabeth. And pretty much every posture is mentioned in Scripture, I think!

]]> https://anitamathias.com/2011/01/17/the-physical-postures-which-best-befit-prayer/#comment-16028 Mon, 17 Jan 2011 20:18:38 +0000 http://anitamathias.com/blog/2011/01/17/the-physical-postures-which-best-befit-prayer/#comment-16028 Like you I hate the enforcement of any particular posture – especially long drawn out standing and singing endless chorus things over and over.
Sometimes I kneel – if it is comfortable to do so – but one of my kneelers in church is the wrong height and I keep fearing that I'll slip off – not conducive to devotion.
Walking, lying on the ground, sitting in a chair, sitting at a table … all have their place… and yes, even standing (for a while).
Sometimes I feel free to raise my arms … generally not.
I think that whatever works at the time is the best posture!!

]]>